Professor Henrik Elvang Jensen is awarded the 2025 Award for Outstanding Research in Veterinary Medicine
The first recipient of the Award for Outstanding Research in Veterinary Medicine is Professor Henrik Elvang Jensen, a Danish veterinarian and professor of veterinary pathology. The award is presented annually by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in collaboration with Agria. It recognises outstanding contributions to veterinary medicine and animal welfare.
The Award for Outstanding Research in Veterinary Medicine was established in 2024 and is now being awarded for the first time to this year’s recipient, Professor Henrik Elvang Jensen, who is affiliated with the University of Copenhagen. The prize of 1 million SEK will be presented during a ceremony at SLU in Uppsala on November 26.
“I am proud that we, together with SLU, have established this award and that we can announce a winner for the first time. It feels especially meaningful to highlight an extraordinary lifetime achievement that has been of great significance for both animals and people,” says David Haak, CEO at Agria.
The jury’s motivation is briefly that Professor Henrik Elvang Jensen is awarded The Award for Outstanding Research in Veterinary Medicine 2025 for his groundbreaking contributions in veterinary pathology and forensic veterinary science. His work has set new standards for how animal suffering can be assessed and prevented, which has been of great importance for animal welfare and veterinary medicine in the Nordic countries and internationally.
The award is presented annually by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in collaboration with Agria. It recognises outstanding contributions to veterinary medicine and animal welfare.
A lifetime contribution to animal health and welfare
For several decades, Henrik Elvang Jensen has combined pioneering research with a strong commitment to preventing and reducing animal suffering. He has contributed new scientific standards for how animal welfare can be assessed, not least through the development of forensic veterinary science. His work has been of great importance for both production animals and pets in the Nordic countries and internationally.
The laureate Henrik Elvang Jensen is honoured by the award
“When my phone rang, showing a Swedish number, I thought it was a call from one of my colleagues in Uppsala. Therefore, I was indeed surprised and overwhelmed hearing the message from the chairman Nils Fall, that I was the recipient of the Award for Outstanding Research in Veterinary Medicine. In the spring, I was humbled to be nominated for the Award, and so I will indeed be when going to Uppsala for the award ceremony in November.”
Professor Henrik Elvang Jensen receives the award for the impressive breadth of his research and his pioneering contributions that have improved the health and welfare of many animal species – from farm animals to pets. He has successfully combined fundamental science with practical application, leading to concrete improvements in animal husbandry, including new guidelines that have reduced the incidence of shoulder ulcers in sows. Through his pioneering work in veterinary forensic pathology, he has also strengthened the role of veterinary medicine within the judicial system and contributed stronger protection of animals. His groundbreaking research on fungal infections (mycoses) – a growing problem worldwide among both animals and humans – has resulted in internationally applied diagnostic methods, crucial for assessing disease progression and enabling proper treatment. Taken together, his research has made veterinary medicine more evidence-based, applicable, and socially relevant – with direct and lasting benefits for animal welfare.
“Veterinary medicine is often associated with animals – and rightly so. However, at SLU, we also recognize the discipline’s vital role in benefiting people and society. As we celebrate 250 years of veterinary medicine in Sweden this year, it is particularly gratifying to recognise Henrik Elvang Jensen. Through his research, specialist expertise and strong societal engagement, he has become a role model for many. His work clearly demonstrates how science and animal welfare go hand in hand, reminding us of veterinary medicine's central role in a sustainable society,” says Maria Knutson Wedel, Vice-Chancellor at SLU.
About the Award for Outstanding Research in Veterinary Medicine 2025
The award was established by SLU and Agria in 2024 and is awarded annually. The prize winner is appointed by the Vice-Chancellor of SLU following the recommendation of a prize committee consisting of veterinary medical experts. The prize is awarded to an individual researcher or a group of researchers who, through their work, have made lasting contributions to the development of veterinary medicine, the promotion of animal health, and the strengthening of animal welfare. In 2025, the prize is awarded for the very first time.
Contact
Henrik Elvang Jensen, Professor at the University of Copenhagen, +45 35 332 760, +45 51 360 373 (mob), elvang@sund.ku.dk
Nils Fall, Chair of the award committee, +46 18 67 13 69, nils.fall@slu.se
Fionnán O´Sullivan
+353 (0) 21 2029119
fionnan.osullivan@agria.ie
Swedish owned Agria, the world's oldest specialist pet insurer, has been helping pets through illness and injury since 1890 and operates in Ireland as Agria Petinsure. With a reputation for reliability and customer-focused services, Agria Petinsure continues to innovate and deliver insurance solutions that meet the evolving needs of pets and pet owners.